Steve Decker was drafted in the 21st round of the 1988 amateur draft out of Lewis-Clark State College. Much of the initial scout attention paid to Decker was actually due to his teammate, and fellow battery mate, Stephen Callahan who was twice himself drafted (in 1988 and 1989), and despite having posted three consecutive minor league seasons with an ERA in the low 2.00's, and never over 3.53 in his minor league career, never made the big leagues.